Supplementation is intended for those with deficiency syndromes, not as a promotion for everyone to take tonics in winter. This is especially true for young, strong, and healthy individuals who have no illnesses or pains, or those with good cold tolerance and compensation mechanisms; they do not need, nor should they take, supplements. For such individuals, supplementation is not only unbeneficial but can be harmful.
This is extensively documented in medical literature from ancient to modern times. For instance, a classical Chinese medical text records a case of sudden death caused by the excessive consumption of Rehmannia root (a kidney tonic). Thus, the ancients have long warned: "Misuse can lead to harm; even ginseng and licorice can become poisonous." In recent times, there have been reports of blindness and even death from ginseng consumption. In Henan province, a healthy young man who decocted 30 grams of red ginseng (in 800ml of water) experienced dizziness, agitation, blurred vision, incoherent speech, and confusion within ten minutes—symptoms of poisoning. Abroad, in the United States and Russia, some people regularly consume large amounts of ginseng; in Russia, one person died after consuming 500ml of ginseng tincture. [美食中国]
Therefore, it must be emphasized that supplementation should be based on a dialectical analysis of one's constitution and condition. As the saying goes: "If the remedy matches the syndrome, even rhubarb can be a tonic; if the remedy does not match the syndrome, even ginseng and deer antler are poisonous." This is a valuable piece of empirical wisdom. 2. Supplementation Should Be Moderate:
The purpose of supplementation is to address deficiencies, thereby restoring and strengthening the body's vital energy (qi) to expel pathogenic factors. If the supplementation is insufficient, the aforementioned goal cannot be achieved. If it is excessive, side effects will occur. For example, an overdose of ginseng can lead to poisoning, known as "Ginseng Syndrome" (characterized by mental excitement, headache, agitation, bloating, and sweating). Overconsumption of deer antler can cause dryness, flushed face, and hair loss. Excessive intake of Rehmannia root can lead to chest and abdominal distension, shortness of breath, and loose stools. One must never resort to reckless supplementation, especially for children. Traditional Chinese medicine has a profound understanding of children's physiological characteristics, describing them as having "immature yin and yang," making them prone to deficiency and excess. Generally speaking, children should not be blindly given supplements like ginseng or bird's nest. Reports in the media about children's precocious puberty and obesity, particularly the former, are not unrelated to the well-intentioned but misguided supplementation by many parents. This issue warrants the attention of society and the health community. Today's children have significant advantages and favorable conditions in terms of innate health, postnatal care, and disease prevention and treatment. Therefore, cases of deficiency in children are extremely rare (excluding those with severe illnesses). In general, winter supplementation is not suitable for children. [美食中国] 3. Supplementation Should Be Done Correctly:
First, one must be aware of contraindications. For example, supplementation should not be administered when suffering from acute illnesses such as a cold, gastrointestinal issues, or bronchitis. Second, one must follow the principle: "Supplementation with promotion is appropriate, while supplementation with stagnation is erroneous." This means the supplement should not be greasy, obstructive, or static. It should be combined with herbs that promote circulation to be harmless. Third, one must prevent "closing the door to keep the thief inside." Since many tonic herbs have astringent, hemostatic, antiperspirant, anti-diarrheal, astringent, and consolidating effects, they are not conducive to expelling pathogenic factors. Therefore, while supplementing, one must not forget to expel pathogens and treat the illness, providing an outlet for the pathogenic factors to be expelled from the body. Fourth, supplementation should start with small doses, gradually increasing the amount to achieve the desired effect slowly. Patients using custom-made decoctions or pills should, before the final prescription is made by a physician, first decoct 3-5 doses of the formula to check for any adverse reactions. Only then should the prescription be finalized to be prepared as a decoction or pill for long-term use. [美食中国]